Suddenly Pappu remembered. His English teacher had given him a project. He had to write 5 sentences about his grandfather or grandmother, about their likes and dislikes. So Pappu ran into grandpa's room.
Grandpa was dyeing his hair. Why should a 65 year-old man dye his hair? Pappu was a precocious child. Though he was studying in class 5 some of the questions that rose in his mind belonged to class 10.
"Grey hairs are a sign of maturity and wisdom," explained Grandpa with a mischievous grin. "I possess neither of them. That's why I'm dyeing my hair."
The next morning, as soon as the school bus dropped him on the campus, Pappu ran to Matheikal Sir, one of the teachers in the school, and asked, "Sir, why don't you dye your hair?"
Grandpa was dyeing his hair. Why should a 65 year-old man dye his hair? Pappu was a precocious child. Though he was studying in class 5 some of the questions that rose in his mind belonged to class 10.
"Grey hairs are a sign of maturity and wisdom," explained Grandpa with a mischievous grin. "I possess neither of them. That's why I'm dyeing my hair."
The next morning, as soon as the school bus dropped him on the campus, Pappu ran to Matheikal Sir, one of the teachers in the school, and asked, "Sir, why don't you dye your hair?"
Sometimes the dye cannot hide the wisdom ;)
ReplyDeleteYour wisdom will shine even through the dye if you decide to dye :)
I'm not going to do it, Aram. Hasn't the colour become part of my identity?
DeleteThe Grandpa may be yet another Matheikal!
ReplyDeleteAll characters have something or the other to do with the author's personality. So you are right.
DeleteAhaha! Pappu sure has grown wiser. :P
ReplyDeleteHe is in good company, you see.
DeleteSmart Pappu. He's gonna pass this year, I guess! :D
ReplyDeleteNobody fails anyway these days until class 10.
DeleteHa ha ha.The child is more wise that the grandpa.Precocious children make life more lively. They are really the masters.
ReplyDeleteThat's why, perhaps, Wordsworth said that the child is father of man :)
ReplyDeleteIt seems gradually I'm becoming matured and gaining wisdom as well :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best, Jahid.
DeleteThe very best of self deprecation. FANTASTIC, though not true.
ReplyDeleteIf you are the "Matheikal sir" then the school, fully residential, is not the one you work in. The logic is equally applicable in the other direction.
RE
This is fiction, Raghuram. What actually happened is very simple. I was in the hostel the evening before I wrote this. One of the students asked me the question why I didn't dye my hair. I gave some banal answer. But the question tickled my mind while I was half asleep. Quite many of my stories are born in that state: while I'm half asleep. This too was born thus.
DeleteThis is fiction, Raghuram. What actually happened is very simple. I was in the hostel the evening before I wrote this. One of the students asked me the question why I didn't dye my hair. I gave some banal answer. But the question tickled my mind while I was half asleep. Quite many of my stories are born in that state: while I'm half asleep. This too was born thus.
DeleteAlthough this is a fiction, it reminded me of a kid who used to live next to my house...she used to come up with the same questions and she was not even in 5th class... :P
ReplyDeleteChildren are born intelligent, the school ruins the intellect :)
DeleteLol....that kid was tell you something :P
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Pankti. There are some real kids of the kind I've created here.
DeleteShort and sweet story :)
ReplyDeleteSo when are you dyeing your hair?
Thanks, Diventia. Even if I want to, I can't dye my hair for the simple reason that I'm terribly allergic to the dye.
DeleteA brilliant piece of writing having the flavour of a good short story. I enjoyed this laconic one.
ReplyDeleteSome flashes of inspiration that come occasionally, that's all Kajal ji.
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